Magnet Patents (Class 399/277)
  • Patent number: 7610002
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member; a first rotatable developer carrying member for carrying a magnetic one component developer to a first developing position to develop a latent image on the image bearing member; a second rotatable developer carrying member, provided downstream of the first developer carrying member with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member, for carrying the magnetic one component developer to a second developing position to develop a latent image on the image bearing member. The second developer carrying member is rotatable in the same rotational direction as the first developer carrying member. The image forming apparatus further includes, a first magnetic member provided in the first developer carrying member and having a plurality of magnetic poles, and a second magnetic member provided in the second developer carrying member, also having a plurality of magnetic poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Kabashima
  • Publication number: 20090245889
    Abstract: A developing unit includable in a process cartridge and in an image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing member including a magnetic field generator and a nonmagnetic hollow member, a developer container, an agitation/conveyance member, and a developer regulating member. The magnetic field generator has first and second magnetic poles to generate respective magnetic forces for removing the developer from the developer bearing member after the developer passes the development region. A developer-releasing region releases the developer from the developer bearing member using a release force. The developer is disposed higher than a surface of the developer in the developer storing chamber. A component of a magnetic flux density of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator in a direction normal to the developer-releasing region is directed to a same direction as the first and second magnetic poles across the developer-releasing region without forming a local maximum point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Kyohta Koetsuka, Masayuki Ohsawa, Yoshiyuki Takano, Katsumi Masuda, Yoshio Hattori, Yuji Suzuki, Takamasa Ozeki, Hiroyuki Uenishi
  • Publication number: 20090238610
    Abstract: A first carrying member supplies a developer to a developer carrier at the position of a developer attracting magnetic pole H4 while longitudinally carrying the developer, and a second carrying member carries the developer released from the developer carrier at the position of a developer releasing magnetic pole H3. The developer carrier 13a has two magnetic poles H2 and H4 of the same polarity sandwiching the developer releasing magnetic pole H3. Moreover, the developer releasing magnetic pole H3 is formed by the two magnetic poles H2 and H4 so that the polarity of the developer releasing magnetic pole H3 differs from the polarity of the two magnetic poles H2 and H4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Yasuo MIYOSHI, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Takuya Seshita, Norio Kudo
  • Publication number: 20090232543
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a magnet facing between a first separating magnetic pole and a second separating magnetic pole on an outer wall of a case. By the rotation of a developing sleeve, a blocking brush is formed between an inner wall of a supply part and the developing sleeve, and an air entering the case is prevented from entering a carrying part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Urasawa, Mitsutoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7577387
    Abstract: A developing unit for an image forming apparatus including an agent carrying member, a supply compartment, a supply screw, a recovery compartment, a recovery screw, an agitation compartment, and an agitation screw. The agent carrying member carries and supplies developing agent to an image carrying member. The supply screw in the supply compartment supplies the developing agent to the agent carrying member. The recovery screw in the recovery compartment, provided under the agent carrying member, transports the developing agent dropped from the agent carrying member. The agitation screw in the agitation compartment receives the developing agent from the supply compartment and recovery compartment, and transports the developing agent to the supply compartment. The recovery compartment, supply compartment, and agitation compartment are provided side-by-side in a horizontal direction. A magnetic flux density in a given area of the agent carrying member is set to 10 mT or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokatsu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7577388
    Abstract: A developing roller includes (I) a developing sleeve that is made of nonmagnetic material, and that holds and conveys a developer; and (II) a magnetic member that is fixed inside the developing sleeve, wherein the magnetic member includes (i) a development magnetic pole that corresponds to a development area; (ii) a before-development magnetic pole that is provided at an upstream side of the developer-conveying direction with respect to the development magnetic pole, and that has a polarity different from the development magnetic pole; and (iii) an after-development magnetic pole that is provided at a downstream side of the developer-conveying direction with respect to the development magnetic pole, and that has a polarity different from the development magnetic pole, wherein q1, q2 and q3 satisfy the following formulas q1>90°; and q1+q2>q3, wherein q1, q2 and q3 are defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7561837
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to processes for electrographic image development. An electrographic development apparatus is provided wherein a film is adjacent a cylindrical toning shell and a mixture of toner and carrier is particles disposed on the cylindrical toning shell in contact with the film. The cylindrical toning shell is closest to the film at a first location, the mixture of toner and carrier particles being movable through the first location with a flow direction. A magnetic core disposed within the cylindrical toning shell offset toward the cylindrical shell such that a magnetic field strength is greater at the second location than the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Edward Michael Eck, Thomas Joseph Foster
  • Publication number: 20090162108
    Abstract: A developing unit includes a developing hopper for storing a dual-component developer. In the developing hopper, an opening portion is formed at the position opposing the outer peripheral surface of a photoreceptor drum. A developing roller for supplying the developer to the photoreceptor drum to develop an electrostatic latent image is provided inside the developing hopper. The developing roller has a multi-pole magnetic member having a multiple magnetic poles and a non-magnetic sleeve. The multi-pole magnetic member has a multiple number of magnetic poles radially arranged apart from each other. The photoreceptor drum incorporates an opposing magnetic pole formed of a bar magnet having a rectangular section, disposed at a position opposing the magnetic pole across a photosensitive layer. The opposing magnetic pole has a polarity dissimilar to that of the main magnetic pole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Yuhsuke Yoshimoto
  • Publication number: 20090154962
    Abstract: A developing device visualizing an electrostatic latent image previously formed on the surface of an image carrier as toner image, comprising: a developing roller placed at a position facing the image carrier, carrying a toner on the surface thereof, conveying the toner and flying the conveyed toner onto the surface of the image carrier; and a resin layer coated on the surface of the developing roller, wherein the absolute value of the difference in charge between the toners in the upper and lower layers of the toner layer formed on the developing roller as the toner carried on the developing roller is 6 ?C/g or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Asami Kotera, Hiroyuki Hamakawa, Akihiro Watanabe, Masashi Fujishima, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Sayo Uemura
  • Publication number: 20090148196
    Abstract: A magnet knife assembly for a toner developing device including a ferromagnetic strip held between like poles (N) of two permanent magnets such that a knife edge portion of the strip projects outwardly beyond the two magnets and is subject to a magnet force that tends to urge the strip in a direction in which the knife edge projects further out of the magnets, wherein the length of the strip is selected such that a portion of the strip opposite to the knife edge is subject to a magnetic force that at least counterbalances said magnetic force on the knife edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Paulus A.C. Groenen, Henricus A.M. Janssen
  • Patent number: 7542696
    Abstract: A developing device is disclosed which includes a fixed magnet roller 25 having a plurality of magnetic poles, a development roller 27 having a development sleeve 26 that is supported axially with the ability to rotate freely, and a magnetic sealing member 29 arranged at the end of the longitudinal direction X of the development sleeve 26. Further, the length of each of the plurality of magnetic poles not facing the magnetic sealing member 29 (in other words, the development pole S1, lead-in pole N1, and blade pole N3) of the fixed magnet roller 25 are shorter than the length of each of the plurality of magnetic poles facing the magnetic sealing member 29. Accordingly, the magnetic toner retained on the peripheral surface of the development sleeve 26 is guided to the development area side in the longitudinal direction X of the development sleeve 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Asami Kotera, Eiji Nimura
  • Patent number: 7536141
    Abstract: A developing device of the present invention includes a photosensitive drum and a developing roller facing the drum. The developing roller accommodates a stationary magnet roller that forms on the surface of the developing roller a scoop-up pole for scooping up the developer stored in the developing device onto the developing roller and a release pole adjoining the scoop-up pole for causing part of the developer moved away from a developing zone to be released from the developing roller between it and the scoop-up pole. The scoop-up pole, which is of the same polarity as the release pole, is configured such that a position where the flux density thereof in the direction normal to the surface of the developing roller is maximum is located closer to the release pole than a position on the above surface corresponding to the center of a range in which the above flux density is halved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 7519315
    Abstract: A developing unit in an image forming device is disclosed in which developer peeled off from a developing roller can be reliably retrieved to an agitation transport member and avoid being directly drawn thereto. A developing unit has a drawing magnetic pole and a peel-off magnetic pole. A first agitation transport member is arranged below a developing roller and agitates and transports the developer in the axial direction simultaneously and supplies it to the developing roller. A guide member has a sloping surface guiding the developer torn off from the developing roller to the first agitation transport member. The magnetic pole is arranged between horizontal positions of the sloping surface, and the magnetic pole is arranged horizontally outward of the lower end of the sloping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Tatsumi, Takahisa Nakaue
  • Publication number: 20090075196
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toner including a binder resin and metal particles containing Au, Ag, Cu, Pt, or an alloy thereof having a volume average particle diameter of from about 1 nm to about 300 nm, or an average maximum length of from about 10 nm to about 200 nm. The invention also provides a novel toner including metal particles which absorb light at plasmon frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi MATSUBARA, Kazunori Anazawa, Yuka Ito, Minquan Tian, Shinji Hasegawa, Kazuhiko Hirokawa, Makoto Furuki, Kazunaga Horiuchi, Tomoko Miyahara
  • Publication number: 20090041510
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided containing an image bearing member, a developer bearing member, and a developer control member being magnetic. The electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member is developed with a toner to form a toner image. The carrier includes magnetic core particles having a cover layer on the surfaces thereof, including fine particles having a weight average particle diameter of from 0.02 to 0.5 ?m. The carrier has a weight average particle diameter of from 22 to 32 ?m, and a ratio (E10/E100) of from 1.00 to 1.20. The ratio (E10/E100) is a ratio of a total energy (E10) to a total energy (E100) at a leading edge speed of the blade of 10 mm/s and 100 mm/s, respectively, measured using a power rheometer at an angle of approach of ?5°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Naoki Imahashi, Tomio Kondou, Kimitoshi Yamaguchi, Hitoshi Iwatsuki
  • Patent number: 7486917
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a first developer container accommodating a first developing agent containing a dark-colored toner and a first carrier; a first developing agent-bearing member at the first developer container, that transports the first developing agent to a first developing region; a first unit for generating a magnetic field in the first developing region, disposed in the first developing agent-bearing member; a second developer container accommodating a second developing agent containing a light-colored toner and a second carrier; a second developing agent-bearing member at the second developer container, that transports the second developing agent to a second developing region; and a second unit for generating a magnetic field in the second developing region and disposed in the second developing agent-bearing member. Magnetic binding force applied to the second carrier in the second developing region from the second unit is larger than that to the first carrier from the first unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanori Akita
  • Publication number: 20090017232
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic latent image holding body in which the surface thereof has water repellency and a magnetic latent image is visualized by a liquid developer that contains a magnetic toner and an aqueous medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Watanabe, Ryosaku Igarashi, Keitaro Mori
  • Publication number: 20080304873
    Abstract: A developing unit which forms an image on a photosensitive medium, includes a housing which accommodates a developer, a magnetic cylinder having a catch pole which picks up the developer in the housing by a magnetic force, and a main pole which couples a carrier among the picked-up developer, a sleeve rotatably installed on a circumference of the magnetic cylinder to form a magnetic brush having a predetermined width on the circumference by the developer picked up by the catch pole, and a sealing member provided at opposite end parts in an axial direction of the sleeve to prevent a leak of the developer, wherein a width Ws of the sleeve, a magnetized width WM of the main pole, a magnetized width Wc of the catch pole, and a width WB of the magnetic brush satisfy WS>WM>WB>WC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyu-cheol Shin
  • Publication number: 20080298849
    Abstract: A magnetic roller includes a solid-core roller having magnetic anisotropy in a direction orthogonal to a central axis thereof. The solid-core roller includes a body part, and shaft parts disposed on both ends of the body part, a concave groove provided in an outer circumference face of the body part to extend in an axial direction, and a magnetic block disposed in the concave groove, the magnetic block having a direction of magnetic anisotropy substantially orthogonal to a direction of the magnetic anisotropy of the magnetic roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi IMAMURA, Yoshiyuki Takano, Kyohta Koetsuka, Tadaaki Hattori, Noriyuki Kamiya, Hiroya Abe, Mieko Terashima, Masayuki Ohsawa, Takashi Innami
  • Publication number: 20080298850
    Abstract: A developing device and an image forming apparatus capable of restraining density irregularity and restraining a decline in image quality caused by adherence of carrier to a photoreceptor, are provided. An angle ? is in a range of no less than 45 degrees nor more than 57 degrees, which is formed between a plane comprising a central line of magnetic pole formed by a regulating pole in a magnet roller and a rotating central axis of a developing sleeve and a plane comprising a central line of magnetic pole formed by a pumping pole and a rotating central axis of the developing sleeve. Further, an absolute value of the maximum value of strength of the magnetic pole formed by a main pole is in a range of no less than 120 mT nor more than 140 mT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Nobuhiro MAEZAWA, Toshimasa Hamada
  • Publication number: 20080267672
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer supporter that includes: a magnet member that has a plurality of magnetic poles; and a cylinder member; and a thickness regulation member wherein, of the plurality of the magnetic poles, a magnetic pole, which is placed at a position nearest to the thickness regulation member downstream in a rotation direction of the cylinder member from the thickness regulation member, has a maximum position of a normal magnetic flux density distribution, and the maximum position is placed outside the area of angle ? downstream in the rotation direction of the cylinder member from the thickness regulation member, and wherein the diameter of the cylinder member is D, the projection width is W in a case where the thickness regulation member is projected onto the surface of the cylinder member, and the angle ? is 180×W/(D×?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuji Matsumoto, Kiyoshi Sakoh, Toyohiko Awano
  • Patent number: 7440718
    Abstract: A developing apparatus having a developing sleeve provided with an elastic layer on its surface, and for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with a mono-component magnetic toner having a mean degree of circularity of 0.965 or greater, a magnet provided in the developing sleeve, and a blade for regulating the amount of the developer carried on the developing sleeve satisfies the expressions |Br|/|B|?0.5 and Nsb/(Bs×R)?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunari Hagiwara, Kenya Ogawa, Shuji Moriya, Naoto Kichijima, Yasushi Shimizu, Koichi Okuda
  • Publication number: 20080240793
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image and a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image with a two-component developing agent, the developing unit includes: a developing agent carrier for developing the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image, having inside thereof a development main magnetic pole for forming a bristle of a magnetic brush; and a plurality of magnetic poles for conveying the developing agent, wherein the developing unit performs a counter type contact developing method, and wherein, the development area is formed so that, a contact width of the bristle of the magnetic brush is 70% or less with respect to a development width, and a center position of the contact width is positioned on an upstream side with respect to a center position of the development width in a rotation direction of said image carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Kobayashi, Yutaka Miyasaka, Nobuyasu Tamura
  • Publication number: 20080240795
    Abstract: The developing device 100 comprises stirring-transfer means 122, 124, a magnetic roller 130, and a developing roller 140, that are disposed in a housing 110 which contains the two-component developing agent comprising the magnetic carrier and the non-magnetic toner, wherein volumetric mean particle size of the non-magnetic toner is set in a range from 6 to 11 ?m, and proportion of toner particles not larger than 4 ?m is set to 8% by number or less, thereby making it possible to prevent imaging defect (ghost) and sticking of the toner onto the developing roller from occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeo MIZOBE
  • Publication number: 20080232861
    Abstract: The development device of this invention includes a developer bearing member, a magnet, and a developer regulation member. The magnet is fixedly disposed within the interior of the developer bearing member. The developer regulation member includes at least a magnetic member. And the thickness of this magnetic member along the rotational direction of the developer bearing member is between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm inclusive. Moreover, if the distance over the developer bearing member, from the position thereupon which the center of the magnetic member along the rotational direction opposes, to the position thereupon at which the magnetism of that magnetic pole which is disposed closest to that position is a maximum, is termed L (mm), and the diameter of the developer bearing member is termed D (mm), then the magnetic member is disposed within the range in which the relationship 0?L/D?0.044 holds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Nobuhiro MAEZAWA, Toyoka Aimoto, Tomohiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20080226355
    Abstract: A development device includes a developer support body including a non-magnetic hollow body which contains a magnetic field generator and attracts a developer onto an outer surface by a magnetic force of the magnetic field generator, a magnetic member being disposed around the magnetic field generator and exerting a magnetic force on the magnetic field generator, and an anti-deflection magnetic field generator being provided around the hollow body and exerting a magnetic force on the magnetic field generator to prevent a deflection of the magnetic field generator by negating at least one of the magnetic force of the magnetic member and a gravitational force due to empty weight of the magnetic field generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Kyohta KOETSUKA, Tadaaki Hattori, Yoshiyuki Takano, Noriyuki Kamiya, Masayuki Ohsawa, Mieko Terashima, Hiroya Abe, Takashi Innami
  • Publication number: 20080213007
    Abstract: A magnet roller includes a cylindrical roller body including a side surface in which a groove is formed, a magnet body which is disposed in the groove, and a magnetic metal member which is attached to a surface of the magnet body, which is remote from an opening of the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TAKANO, Tsuyoshi Imamura, Kyohta Koetsuka, Noriyuki Kamiya, Masayuki Ohsawa, Hiroya Abe, Takashi Innami, Tadaaki Hattori, Mieko Terashima
  • Publication number: 20080213006
    Abstract: A developing device is disclosed. The developing device includes a developing roller disposed to face an image carrier and a toner carrier capturing roller disposed to face the developing roller for capturing toner carriers adhered onto the image carrier. The developing roller generates a magnetic pole at a side facing the toner carrier capturing roller. A first virtual line, which connects a rotational center of the developing roller to a rotational center of the toner carrier capturing roller, passes through a region between a position where a magnetic flux density of the magnetic pole in the normal line direction is minimum on the developing roller at the upstream side in the rotational direction of the developing roller and a position where the magnetic flux density of the magnetic pole in the normal line direction is maximum on the developing roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Masayoshi NAKAYAMA, Yoshitaka Fujinuma, Susumu Tateyama, Tatsuya Kubo
  • Publication number: 20080199228
    Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of developing devices each provided with a developing roller structured with a developing sleeve and a fixed magnetic pole member, an agitating member, a recovering and feeding member, a regulating member and a developing device casing member, at least one of the plurality of developing devices has a different developer storing capacity and a different outer diameter of the recovering and feeding member for the other developing devices and has the same angle allocation values among the plurality of fixed magnetic poles in the fixed magnetic pole member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: Hiroyuki TOKIMATSU
  • Patent number: 7412194
    Abstract: The present invention provides a developing apparatus that can effectively prevent generation of a ghost due to poor detachment of a developer after development, and generation of unevenness in density between a left part and a right part of an image region due to lack of an amount of the developer transported. The developing apparatus satisfies the relationship r+R?d?3r+R where r denotes a rotational radius of a second developer transporting screw, R denotes a rotational radius of a development roller, and d denotes a center distance between the second developer transporting screw and the development roller. The developing apparatus also satisfies the relationship M0?(mg0×v×l)/0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinobu Okuda, Kazumasa Hayashi, Akinori Toyoda, Masao Ootsuka, Hideki Yasuda, Naoki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20080181677
    Abstract: A developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of a latent image bearer rotating in one direction utilizes an electrified developer that is prepared by mixing two components, or an electrostatically chargeable toner and magnetic carrier. The developing unit includes a developing roller for supplying the developer to the latent image hearer and a carrier collecting roller disposed on the downstream side of the developing roller with respect to the rotational direction of the latent image bearer. The carrier collecting roller includes first and second magnetic pole elements of different magnetic polarities, both presenting a magnetic field intensity of 400 G to 750 G. The first magnetic pole element is disposed at a position on the opposite side across the center of the carrier collecting roller from the position opposing the latent image bearer. The second magnetic pole element is disposed at a position opposing the developing roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISH
    Inventor: Masahiro SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20080170891
    Abstract: A magnetic particle carrying device includes a magnetic field generator and a hollow cylindrical structure. The magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field. The hollow cylindrical structure encases the magnetic field generator and attracts magnetic particles on an external surface of the hollow structure using the magnetic field. The external surface of the hollow cylindrical structure is provided with a plurality of elliptical depressions. The depressions include first type depressions and second type depressions. A long axis of a first type of elliptical depression is substantially extending in an axial direction of the hollow cylindrical structure, and a long axis of a second type of elliptical depression is substantially extending in a circumferential direction of the hollow cylindrical structure. The external surface of the hollow cylindrical structure has more elliptical depressions of the second type than elliptical depressions of the first type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroya ABE, Tsuyoshi Imamura, Kyohta Koetsuka, Tadaaki Hattori, Yoshiyuki Takano, Noriyuki Kamiya, Masayuki Ohsawa, Mieko Terashima, Takashi Innami
  • Publication number: 20080124137
    Abstract: A developing unit includes a development roller and a magnetic roller. Sleeves of the development roller and the magnetic roller are driven to rotate in the same circumferential direction. A first magnet is provided on the roller shaft in the sleeve of the development roller and a second magnet is provided on the roller shaft in the sleeve of the magnetic roller. The first and second magnets are opposed to each other so that opposite polarities face each other, and are supported non-rotatably in circumferential directions. The first magnet is supported so that the peak of the magnetic force of the first magnet is positioned upstream in the direction of rotation of the sleeve of the development roller from the straight line connecting the center of the roller shaft of the development roller to the center of the roller shaft of the magnetic roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Takahisa Nakaue, Shoichi Sakata
  • Publication number: 20080124136
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a non-magnetic sleeve installing a magnetic field creating device, a developer carrier that carries and conveys developer including magnetic carrier and toner, and a development casing that contains developer. The development casing includes an opening that allows the developer carrier to be partially exposed and oppose a latent image carrier. The surface of the developer carrier vertically moves in the opening. An angle (?) between an inner wall surface of the development casing, located in the vicinity of opening on the down stream side and the horizontal plain, meets the following relation, wherein ? represents a static friction coefficient of the inner wall surface in relation to the toner; Sin ?>?×cos ?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Yuki Oshikawa
  • Patent number: 7379693
    Abstract: A developing apparatus having a rotatable developing sleeve having an elastic layer on the surface thereof for carrying a mono-component magnetic developer and urged against a photosensitive drum to develop an electrostatic image formed on the drum with the developer, a non-rotary magnet provided inside the sleeve for magnetically attracting the developer to the sleeve, and a blade having an abutting portion abutting against the sleeve in a counter direction for regulating the amount of the developer on the sleeve, a step portion spaced apart from the abutting portion, and a separating portion provided upstream of the step portion in the rotation direction of the sleeve, wherein the surface of the sleeve to which the separating portion is opposed includes a position satisfying |Br|/|B|?0.5, where B(G): the magnitude of magnetic flux density formed on the surface of the sleeve, and Br(G): a component of the magnetic flux density in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenya Ogawa, Yasushi Shimizu, Shuji Moriya, Kazunari Hagiwara, Naoto Kichijima, Koichi Okuda
  • Patent number: 7366454
    Abstract: The long magnet includes a magnet block made of a mixture of rare earth magnetic powder, thermoplastic resin particles, fluidity additive, pigment, wax and charge control agent, and a reinforcing member to reinforce the magnet block. At least part of the reinforcing member is arranged inside of the magnet block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Nakamura, Mieko Kakegawa, Sumio Kamoi, Tsuyoshi Imamura, Kyohta Koetsuka, Noriyuki Kamiya
  • Publication number: 20080089722
    Abstract: A developing apparatus, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus of which the image density can be maintained and the fogged image and the uneven density can be within an acceptable level even when the diameter of a developer carrying member is not more than 12 mm. The outer diameter of the developer carrying member 41 is not less than 8 mm and not more than 12 mm, and a magnetic mono-component developer 43 has a saturation magnetization of not less than 20 Am2/kg and not more than 37 Am2/kg when the magnetic field of 79.6 kA/m (1000 oersteds) is applied, the magnetization of not less than 70% and not more than 80% of the saturation magnetization when the magnetic field is lowered to 55.7 kA/m (700 oersteds), and the magnetization of not less than 50% and not more than 62% of the saturation magnetization when the magnetic field is lowered to 39.8 kA/m (500 oersteds).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Ojima, Masahito Kato, Nobuyoshi Yoshida, Satoru Inami, Tadashi Dojo
  • Publication number: 20080080906
    Abstract: A developing device comprises: a case having a developing opening; a cylindrical-shaped developer carry member disposed exposed in part to the developing opening, and rotatable for holding and carrying a developer; and a magnet member disposed fixed within the developer carry member and comprising two or more magnetic poles including a developing magnetic pole and a developer peel-off magnetic pole. In such portion of the case that not only is opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the developer carry member after it passes through the developing area but also corresponds to an area which extends from the developing magnetic pole in the rotation direction up to the developer peel-off magnetic pole and provides a normal direction magnetic flux density of 20 mT or less, a projecting portion where a clearance between its opposed portion and the outer peripheral surface of the developer carry member becomes narrowest is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ichiro Kawahara, Takafumi Wakai
  • Patent number: 7352983
    Abstract: A development magnet roller for use in a development roller of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided. The development magnet roller has a development pole to form a magnetic field causing a developer born on a surface of the development roller including the development magnet roller to rise in a form of a series of ears in a development area of the image forming apparatus where the development roller opposes an image bearing member, and in a magnetic flux density distribution in a normal line direction of the development pole, a peak magnetic flux density is 120 mT or greater, a zero gauss region width is 70° or greater, and a half-value region width is 40° or smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kamiya, Takahiro Yasunaga, Tsuyoshi Imamura, Sumio Kamoi, Kyohta Koetsuka, Mieko Kakegawa
  • Patent number: 7315711
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of includes a developing device bifunctioning as a cleaning device for collecting toner grains left on a photoconductive drum after the transfer of a toner image from the drum to a paper sheet or similar image transfer medium. In the event of toner collection, a DC voltage is applied that causes the residual toner to move from the drum toward a developing sleeve. A main-pole magnet generates, at a position where the developing sleeve faces the drum, a magnetic field of between 100 mT and 200 mT in a direction normal to the surface of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Ariizumi, Masahide Yamashita, Koji Suzuki, Yasushi Koichi, Shigekazu Enoki, Kumiko Hatakeyama, Koichi Kato, Toshiyuki Kabata, Jun Yura
  • Patent number: 7308223
    Abstract: A developing agent carrying member including magnets is disposed facing an image carrying member, a two-component developing agent containing toner and magnetic carrier is carried in a form of a layer on a surface of the developing agent carrying member, speed difference is generated between the developing agent carrying member and the magnets so as to cause a magnetic brush to flow while forming the magnetic brush on a developing agent layer at least in a facing region where the developing agent carrying member and the image carrying member face one another, and free toner separated from magnetic carrier in a flow of the magnetic brush adheres onto a latent image formed on the image carrying member, whereby developing is performed. A line-shaped latent image is developed with the toner starting from a middle portion thereof in a width direction of the line-shaped latent image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisao Kurosu
  • Patent number: 7289754
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus incorporating: an image forming body; and a developing unit having a developer carrier, a magnetic field generator, a developer restriction member, a first conveyer, and a second conveyer, wherein the magnetic field generator has: a main magnetic pole; pickup magnetic pole; and a strip-off magnetic pole, wherein the developing unit satisfies following conditions: (a) the second conveyer is a screw conveyer having an outer diameter within 24 mm-30 mm, rotating speed of 300-500 rpm, (b) the pickup magnetic pole is arranged at an angle of 25°-60° downstream with a line connecting a rotation centers of the developer carrier and the second conveyer, (c) the strip-off magnetic pole is arranged at 60°-80° upward with the line,(d) a transporting capability of the first conveyer is larger than that of the second conveyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yutaka Miyasaka, Nobuyasu Tamura, Kazutoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7283774
    Abstract: A developing method of the present invention is practicable with a developing unit of the type including a rotatable, nonmagnetic sleeve and a rigid metering member. A two ingredient type developer made up of magnetic carrier grains and toner grains is magnetically deposited on the sleeve. The metering member meters the amount of the developer deposited on the sleeve. The sleeve has surface roughness Rz ranging from 5 ?m to 20 ?m. The carrier grains each are covered with a coating layer containing at least binder resin and grains. The ratio of the diameter D of the individual grain contained in the coating layer to the thickness h of the binder resin layer lies in the range of 1<D/h<10. The carrier grains have a weight-mean grain size ranging from 20 ?m to 60 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamasa Ozeki, Akira Azami
  • Publication number: 20070196139
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a first developer container accommodating a first developing agent containing a dark-colored toner and a first carrier; a first developing agent-bearing member at the first developer container, that transports the first developing agent to a first developing region; a first unit for generating a magnetic field in the first developing region, disposed in the first developing agent-bearing member; a second developer container accommodating a second developing agent containing a light-colored toner and a second carrier; a second developing agent-bearing member at the second developer container, that transports the second developing agent to a second developing region; and a second unit for generating a magnetic field in the second developing region and disposed in the second developing agent-bearing member. Magnetic binding force applied to the second carrier in the second developing region from the second unit is larger than that to the first carrier from the first unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masanori Akita
  • Patent number: 7251441
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer including one component magnetic toner to develop an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member. The developer carrying member includes an elastic member contactable to the image bearing member; magnetic field generating means, for attracting the developer to the developer carrying member, and a regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member. The developer is regulated by the regulating member and applied on the developer carrying member at 5-16 g/mk2. At a position where the regulating member is contacted to the developer carrying member, a magnetic flux density B generated by the magnetic field generating means, and a component Br of the magnetic flux density B normal to a surface of the developer carrying member, satisfy, |Br|/|B|?0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunari Hagiwara, Kouichi Okuda, Yasushi Shimizu, Kenya Ogawa, Hikaru Osada, Shuji Moriya
  • Patent number: 7236727
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing and conveying an electrostatic image; a first developer carrying member for carrying and conveying a developer toward a first developing position; and a second developer carrying member for carrying and conveying the developer toward a second developing position, wherein when a time period required for a movement of the developer carried and conveyed by the first developer carrying member and the second developer carrying member from the first developing position through the developer delivering portion to the second developing position is assigned TA, and a time period required for a movement of the developer on the image bearing member from the first developing position to the second developing position is assigned TB, and wherein respective driving speeds of the image bearing member, the first developer carrying member, and the second developer carrying member are controlled so that TA and TB are different values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7236728
    Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image, which is formed on an image-bearing body, with a developer which includes a toner and a carrier, the developing device comprises a developing roll, which includes a fixed magnet at an interior portion and a rotatable sleeve at an outer side thereof, and which is disposed to oppose the image-bearing body, rotates while carrying the developer, and conveys the developer to a developing region in a direction opposite to a direction of progress of the image-bearing body for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image-bearing body, wherein the developing roll includes a magnetic pole which includes, in a circumferential direction of the developing roll, at least two magnetic flux density peaks with the same polarity in the developing region, one of the magnetic flux density peaks opposing an end portion of the developing region at a downstream side in the direction of progress of the image-bearing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Noda, Hirotaka Matsuoka, Tsutomu Kubo
  • Patent number: 7214461
    Abstract: The toner of the present invention is suitably used in SLIC development system where a liner velocity of a developer-bearing member is 150 to 500 cm/sec. The toner has resin particles containing at least a coloring agent, and a charge controlling agent fine articles, and a ratio M/T of the amount M (% by weight) of an element in the surface of toner particles as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to the amount T (% by weight) of the element in the entire toner particles of 20 to 500, which element is present only in a charge control agent among components of the toner and is an element belonging to one of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth periods of the long form of periodic table of elements except hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and rare gas elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamashita, Kenzo Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 7203450
    Abstract: A developing roller includes a developing sleeve having a nonmagnetic material, and a magnet roll provided inside the developing sleeve and formed by dispersing a magnetic powder in a polymer compound. A portion of the magnet roll corresponding to a developing pole of the magnet roll is equipped with a main-pole molded magnet whose magnetic force per unit of volume is greater than that of the magnet roll. A magnetic pole adjacent to the developing pole of the magnet roll downstream in the developer conveyance direction has a peak magnetic flux density on the developing sleeve greater than that of the developing pole, and has a half value width, which is the width of the magnetic pole at which a magnetic flux density of one-half the peak magnetic flux density is exhibited, greater than that of the developing pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd
    Inventors: Mieko Kakegawa, Sumio Kamoi, Kyohta Koetsuka, Noriyuki Kamiya, Tsuyoshi Imamura
  • Patent number: 7194231
    Abstract: A magnetic roller for image developing of a printer and having a roller body made of rubber, plastic, or artificial resin mixed with magnetic materials and formed as unity, and a plurality of S magnetic poles and N magnetic poles, which are formed in the outer circle of the roller body as a unity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Proweal Counter Corp.
    Inventors: Tso-Lun Wu, Cheng Lung Lee